Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck's contract talks stall over wage demands – report

Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck's wage demands have led to contract negotiations with the club stalling, according to the Daily Mail.

United are keen to reward the youngster's progress in recent months with a bumper pay deal, but have been astonished by his negotiators tactics.

The newspaper claims that the striker is angling for £60,000-a-week, with his club only willing to offer a deal that starts at £45,000-a-week, an offer that still represents a significant hike on his current weekly wages of around £15,000.

A rise would see him fall in line with some of the club’s other younger players, with defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling both said to be earning in the region of £50,000-a-week.

This is not the first time, though, that the tactics of Welbeck’s advisors have caused problems. Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn was taken aback last season after the England striker asked for a number of separate bonuses on top of his wages ahead of his loan move to the Stadium of Light.

Quinn came close to pulling the plug on the short-term deal altogether, until a compromise was finally reached between club and player.

The 21-year-old has established himself as an important member of the first-team squad this season at Old Trafford and has already contributed an impressive haul of eight goals in all competitions.